22

REPORT ON THE

The cost per bed was therefore—

Nursing.

     14.  The Lady Superintendent of the Canning Home, Miss Huband,
along with Miss Best and Miss Furrell, have throughout the year superintended
the nursing in the hospital. Each lady took charge of the duties in one ward,
the nurses of which were immediately under her direction. Some new nurses
have been trained during the year, and the older ones have improved under
the careful training of the lady nurses. These ladies have devoted much
attention to the instruction of their subordinates in all that concerns the proper
care of the sick.

     The nurses in the female ward for the grearter part of the year were
under the matron, Mrs. Hickey, who has taught one of them, Mrs. DeSilva, to
be an efficient midwife, and who has managed all the nursing arrangements of
her ward very satisfactorily.

     The nursing in the cholera wards has been efficient, and the permanent
addition of special nurses for duty in this ward has, as already stated, been a
great boon to the patients, and has given much assistance to the medical
officers in treating the cases.

Library.

     15.  There have been several new volumes added to the library during
the year. Most of them have been purchased with the Government allowance
for that purpose but contributions of books and periodicals have also been
received from private sources.

     The utility of the library is proved by the manner in which the patients
throng to it. To bed-ridden patients it is invaluable, affording them means of
passing agreeably many an otherwise weary hour.

State of buildings.

     16.  All the buildings are lighted by gas. The pipes and fittings have
become much deteriorated by age, and in consequence a very considerable
leakage has been taking place. It was some time before this was discovered.
A skilled mechanic is at present engaged in fully examining the state of the
fittings. A somewhat large outlay will, it is feared, be necessary to thoroughly
repair, and replace worn out portions of the pipes.

     During 1877 the addition to the western buildings was completed, and is
now in use, the lower floor as an operating theatre, the upper floor as a lying-in-
room. Both these rooms were very much needed, and are very useful additions
to the hospital. Some appliances are still, however, necessary in both rooms. In
the operating theatre a proper gas lamp is required over the table. At present
there is no arrangement for lighting, and when anything has to be done at
night this want is felt most seriously. A sink for the emptying of water soiled
with sponges, &c., is also much wanted.

Lying-in-ward.

     In the lying-in-ward gas has not as yet been laid on, and a sink for soiled
water is here also a great desideratum.

Bathing and
latrine
accommodation.

     The most pressing change now needed is in the bathing and latrine accom-
modation, which is far from satisfactory, especially in the central block. The
urinals, which at first worked well, have recently given much trouble, the pipes
leading from them becoming choked. The whole arrangement needs complete
remodelling.

Erection of new
buildings for
nurses.

     Towards the close of the year the erection of the new buildings for the
nurses was commenced. This addition to the hospital, recently sanctioned by
His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, will be of great value.

     Under existing arrangements all children are received into the female
ward, as there is no separate accommodation for them. The constant crying of
sick children in a ward is extremely distressing to other patients, and must act
very injuriously, as many of them suffer from disease for which rest and quiet
are indispensable. A separate ward for children is much needed. When the
new quarters are completed, the space now occupied by the nurses on the
female-ward-floor might be utilised perhaps as a children's ward, but a certain